Wave Reflections from Diffuse Boundaries

Abstract

The intensity of the waves reflected from various types of diffuse boundaries in which the dielectric constant changes only slightly is considered. The constant inside the reflection layer is assumed to vary as some power of the distance. It is further assumed that above and below this transition layer the media are uniform. The calculations show that the rate of decrease of intensity of the reflected wave with increasing layer thickness is more rapid for large values of $\mu$ the index of refraction, than for values close to unity. Fresnel's equations are therefore applicable to layers of considerable thickness if $\mu$ is very close to unity.